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Aluminum Oxide (Alumina)

  • Abrasives
  • CAS 1344-28-1
  • IUPAC: Aluminium oxide

Aluminum Oxide (Alumina) (CAS 1344-28-1) appears in 19 of the 1,812 car-care products CarCareTruth tracks (as of June 2026).

Inert mineral. Inhalation of fine dust is an irritant (as with any particulate) but not toxic. No systemic health hazard in liquid suspension.

Aluminum oxide is the abrasive in most car care compounds and polishes. It's the same material used in sandpaper, grinding wheels, and sapphires (which are crystalline alumina).

In car compounds, it's suspended in a liquid carrier as micro-particles that cut into clear coat to remove scratches and defects. "Diminishing abrasive" technology means the particles break down during polishing, going from aggressive cut to fine polish in a single step.

Health-wise it's inert — no chemical hazard, no systemic toxicity. The only concern is respirable dust if you're dry-buffing compound residue aggressively, which isn't a realistic exposure scenario. Environmentally persistent (it's a mineral) but non-toxic.

Health & environment profile

VOC
no
Prop 65 listed
no
Asthmagen
no
EPA Safer Choice
no
Aquatic toxicity
no
Biodegradable
no
Bioaccumulative
no
Persistent
yes
Ozone depleting
no
Microplastic
no
PFAS
no
Env. score
4/5
Purpose: Micro-abrasive cutting agent in compounds and polishes

Common questions about Aluminum Oxide (Alumina)

What is Aluminum Oxide (Alumina) used for in car care?
Micro-abrasive cutting agent in compounds and polishes
Is Aluminum Oxide (Alumina) a VOC?
No. Aluminum Oxide (Alumina) is not classified as a volatile organic compound (VOC).
Is Aluminum Oxide (Alumina) on California's Proposition 65 list?
No. Aluminum Oxide (Alumina) is not on California's Proposition 65 list.

19 products contain this

Related

Health and environment notes translate the manufacturer Safety Data Sheet, the GHS classification, and authoritative regulatory listings (California Prop 65, EPA). Not medical advice. They describe the ingredient itself; whether a hazard applies to a finished product depends on its concentration and how it's used.